Shop for digital camcorders

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 3 reviews

Specs: CMOS, 5,000,000 pixels, 3.3 oz, 1.2 in, GoPro HD Hero Naked Camcorder - Wearable, 1.7 in, Lens - F/2.8, 2.4 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 standard-definition camcorders pack a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 8.1 oz, 2.2 in, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, Sony Handycam DCR-SX65 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2 in, 4.9 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Panasonic's trio of prosumer camcorders, the hard-disk-based HDC-HS900 and flash-based TM900 and SD800, deliver generally excellent video quality and provide the full set of manual controls and features advanced users want. But you have to be willing to baby the white balance a bit. The TM900 is my top pick of the three for its EVF, but if you're on a tight budget the SD800 should suit just fine. Read review

Specs: 3MOS, Built-in flash, 13.9 oz, 5.7 in, Panasonic HDC-TM900 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.8 in, 2.6 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 3.45 mm - 41.4 mm - F/1.5-2.8

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Kodak Playfull minicamcorder is a pocketful of video fun, but it might be just too "mini" for some. Read review

Specs: CMOS, None, 3.4 oz, 3.9 in, 0.6 in, Lens - 3.9 mm, 1.6 in, Kodak PLAYFULL ZE1 - Camcorder - Pocket - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's more expensive than its sub-$600 competitors, the Canon Vixia HF20 and Vixia HF200 deliver a more extensive feature set for the extra money. The HF200, which lacks internal memory, is probably a better buy than the HF20, though the HF20's all-black body is a bit classier looking. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 2.99 megapixels, Built-in flash, 12 oz, 2.4 in, 15 x x Zoom lens - 4.1 mm - 61.5 mm - F/1.8-3.2, 4.9 in, Canon VIXIA HF200 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: A fine follow-up to last year's M3xx series, the Canon Vixia M4xx series should please most home-movie-oriented videographers despite its relatively high price. If you don't need the EVF, the M400 is your best buy, but if you'll be shooting a lot in sunlight, it's worth it to step up to the M41. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 12.3 oz, 5.2 in, - F/1.8 - 3.0, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm, 2.8 in, 2.9 in, Canon VIXIA HF M40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: Typical for their price class, the no-frills Sony Handycam HDR-CX130, CX160, and XR160 produce generally subpar HD video, but if you're not picky you'll probably be fine. The CX130 is the best buy of the three, as long as you go cheap on the memory card. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, 8.8 oz, 2.2 in, Sony Handycam HDR-CX160 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 30 x x Zoom lens - 2.1 mm - 63 mm - F/1.8-3.4, 2.1 in, 4.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.6 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Samsung HMX-W300 rugged minicamcorder is a good traveling companion for capturing Web-friendly movie clips and photos of your next hike or beach trip. Read review

Specs: BSI-CMOS, 4.8 oz, 4.4 in, 0.7 in, Samsung HMX-W300 - Camcorder - Pocket - Flash card, Lens - 4.3 mm - F/2.2, 2.4 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: The flash-based Panasonic HDC-TM700 and its hard-disk sibling, the HDC-HS700, stand out for their low-light video quality and broad set of manual controls. However, while the TM700 is very attractively priced for its class, the HS700 is not, and not worth the price premium unless you absolutely need the hard disk. Read review

Specs: 3MOS, Built-in, 13.4 oz, 12 x x Zoom lens - 3.45 mm - 41.4 mm - F/1.5-2.8, Panasonic HDC-TM700K - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.6 in, 2.7 in, 5.4 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.9 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: With its AG-HVX200, Panasonic raises the bar again, bringing us professional HD versatility and quality at a lower price than ever. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, Built-in, 13 x x Zoom lens - 4.2 mm - 55 mm - F/1.6, - DV, Panasonic AG-HVX200 - Camcorder - Professional - DVCPRO, - DVCPRO HD, - P2 Card

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: CMOS, 9.5 oz, Samsung HMX-F90 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 4.7 in, 2.2 in, 2.1 in, 52 x x Zoom lens - 2.1 mm - 109.2 mm - F/1.8

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The standard Ion Air Pro is a rugged sports camcorder that is easy to use with many thoughtful features, but the addition of Wi-Fi and app connectivity makes it a truly standout camera. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 5 megapixels, 0.3 lbs, 1.5 in, Fixed focus - f/2.8, 4.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: They're cheap and capture video, but don't buy the Sony Handycam HDR-CX190, CX200 or CX210 thinking that you're getting a great bargain on a real HD camcorder. If you're going to buy one, get the cheapest; nothing on any of these is really worth the extra bucks. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, 6.2 oz, 2.2 in, 25 x x Zoom lens - 2.5 mm - 62.5 mm - F/1.8-3.2, 2 in, Sony Handycam HDR-CX210 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 4.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40. Read review

Specs: MOS, 6 oz, zoom, 16.8 x x 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6, 4.3 in, 2.3 in, 2 in, Panasonic HDC-SD40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 32 reviews

The Bottom Line: Canon's first flash-based camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF10, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 13.4 oz, 2.5 in, Canon VIXIA HF10 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.9 in, 5.1 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 4.8 mm - 57 mm - F/1.8-3.0

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Despite a perceived lull in the camcorder market, Sony announces 10 models at CES. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, 12.2 oz, Camcorder, Sony Handycam HDR-PJ430V - Consumer - Flash card, 2.6 in, 30 x x, Zoom lens - 1.9 mm - 57 mm - F/1.8-4.0 G, 2.4 in, 4.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: MOS, Built-in flash, 9.1 oz, 5 in, Panasonic HX-WA03 - Camcorder - Pocket - Flash card, 3.8 in, 1.8 in, 5 x x Zoom lens - 6.8 mm - 34 mm - F/3.5-3.7

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: As long as you don't need to change shooting modes on the go, the ContourRoam2 is a simple way to capture fine-quality POV videos in dry or wet conditions. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: BSI-CMOS, 7.6 oz, 40 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 116 mm - F/1.8, JVC Everio GZ-E200 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2 in, 4.7 in, 2.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Pivothead's pricey Durango video-recording eyewear is a fast, easy way to shoot Web-friendly POV movies. Read review

Specs: Camcorder - Internal flash memory

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though they're an excellent trio of camcorders, the Vixia HF S21, HF S20, and HF S200 are significantly more expensive than their respective competitors, especially since the S20 and S200 lack electronic viewfinders. If you can forgo some of the subtleties of the manual controls, you can probably get what you need with a cheaper camcorder. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in flash, 16.6 oz, 2.9 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.4 mm - 64 mm - F/1.8-3.0, Canon VIXIA HF S21 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 3 in, 5.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: As long as you don't need to change shooting modes on the go, the ContourRoam2 is a simple way to capture fine-quality POV videos in dry or wet conditions. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: A solid first effort in a nascent category, the Sony Handycam NEX-VG10 nevertheless needs some conceptual refinement. Read review

Specs: Exmor APS HD CMOS, External, 2.9 lbs, 11 x x Zoom lens - 18 mm - 200 mm - F/3.5-6.3, 5.2 in, Sony Handycam NEX-VG10 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 11.6 in, 3.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Camcorder flash light, 12.2 oz, 12 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 34.8 mm - F/1.8-3.4, 6 in, 3.5 in, Sony Handycam HDR-CX580V - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 3.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, 10.9 oz, 2.7 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0, Canon VIXIA HF M52 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 4.8 in, 2.5 in